Women's attitudes towards cervico-vaginal self-sampling for high risk HPV infection on the U.S.-Mexico border
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the acceptability and intention to use cervico-vaginal self-sampling for hrHPV infection after receiving an educational intervention among the predominantly Hispanic population residing along the U.S.-Mexico border. Methods: Women received an educational intervention about cervical cancer prevention through screening with conventional cytology and with self-sampling for hrHPV. After the educational intervention women performed the self-sampling test. Women’s attitudes towards the self-sampling test and cervical cytology were assessed and compared. Results: A total of 110 women aged 30 – 65 years completed the study. The mean age of the population was 48 years (SD 9.3); most (87%) self-identified as being Hispanic and half were born in Mexico; 16% had not had cervical cytology done in 3 years. Self-sampling was more acceptable than cervical cytology; acceptability scores were 25.0(SD 2.9) and 22.7(SD 3.0) respectively, with the maximum possible score being 28. (p <.001). A large proportion of women (42.7%) preferred both tests equally. We found high intention to use and recommend self-sampling. Contrary to previous studies, there were no differences between cervical cytology and self-sampling regarding women’s concerns about performing the test well and the accuracy of the test, which we attribute to the educational intervention. Conclusion: The high acceptability of self-sampling after participants received education about the test and the reported intention to use it if made available adds to the evidence on the feasibility of integrating self-testing within cervical cancer screening guidelines.
Subject Area
Social research|Womens studies|Public health|Hispanic American studies|Epidemiology
Recommended Citation
Penaranda, Eribeth K, "Women's attitudes towards cervico-vaginal self-sampling for high risk HPV infection on the U.S.-Mexico border" (2015). Texas Medical Center Dissertations (via ProQuest). AAI10109662.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/dissertations/AAI10109662